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She found that out on her own, when instead of walking to her car come closing time, I got on my bike and took off, not even giving her so much as a glance. And I knew she was watching me, expecting at least an explanation.
I couldn’t give her that. This was my way out, and fucking her over was the only way she’d leave me alone.
All of this was my doing. I wanted to break her. I did it so she’d pull away.
So if someone could please explain to me why the fuck it pissed me off every time she did pull away, that would be great. ’Cause I sure as hell didn’t get it.
“Dude, the soup is boiling.”
J.R.’s warning jarred my focus. Cursing, I quickly turned down the heat and stirred the thick broth, grateful it hadn’t burned.
Fucking women. Nate couldn’t hire a bunch of men to wait tables? What the fuck was wrong with him?
“I’m gonna get started on the marinara,” J.R. said, grabbing a pot off the shelf above me.
I jerked my chin.
“You’re such a go-getter, J.R. Good for you,” he mumbled, laughing at himself.
I turned my head and glared. He took a step back, his one hand raised defensively, and moved his pot to the other set of burners on the other side of the grill.
Christ, I was going to be sharing a kitchen with this idiot. My days were going to feel a helluva lot longer now. I just knew it.
“I loved your story yesterday, Shay,” Kali said.
“Really? Thanks! I always wonder if people think they’re stupid or not. I go a little nuts on there.”
Grabbing the tray of chicken I’d already prepped and seasoned, I moved to the worktop in front of the window and started dumping extra seasoning on the breasts, which I had no fucking reason for doing, except that doing it put me closer to that window, which put me closer to her.
I glanced up, saw Shayla standing on the other side of the bar where Kali stood making drinks, got those eyes I couldn’t get enough of for a full fucking second, and then watched her turn away, looking uneasy.
Goddamn it. She shouldn’t be turning away and looking uneasy.
What the fuck? Yes, she should.
“No, it was great! I’m so excited for you,” Kali said, filling another cup of with water after passing one to Shayla. “Your stories are always so cute and funny. Mine suck.”
“They do not. You’re crazy.” Shayla took a sip of her drink, met my eyes again because I sure as fuck wasn’t paying attention to chicken that didn’t need any more seasoning, and was only watching her, then took those eyes away from me as she moved away. “I’m gonna go wipe down the tables,” she called out.
“I’ll help. Hold on.” Kali turned toward the window, sipping her water.
“What story is she talking about? Is she a writer or something?” I asked, keeping my voice low.
It pissed me off I was even having to ask this question. I should’ve known this. She had told me everything else about her life. Why the fuck wouldn’t she tell me this?
Kali looked up at me and slowly lowered her glass. Her eyes were round. “Are you talking to me?” she whispered, staring at me like I’d just appeared in front of her out of thin air.
Jesus Christ. “Is anyone else standing there where I’m lookin’?” I growled. “What do you think?”
“Well…it’s just, you never talk to me,” she said, leaning closer. “Like ever. Are you feeling okay? Is something happening? Are we under attack right now?”
“Are you gonna answer my fuckin’ question or not?”
“Sorry. This is just weird.” She quickly leaned back. “It’s, uh, Snapchat. Her Snapchat story. That’s what we were talking about.”
“What the fuck is Snapchat?”
“Dude.” J.R. came to stand beside me, looking amused. “Even my grandmother knows what Snapchat is. Have you been living under a rock or something?” He gestured at the tray. “Pretty sure that chicken has enough seasoning now.”
Motherfucker. “Did I fuckin’ ask what you thought about the chicken?” I gritted out through clenched teeth. “Go work on your fuckin’ marinara.”
J.R. chuckled and kept standing there.
Great.
“It’s an app,” Kali said hurriedly. “You know, the little icons on your phone. You can download them. It’s another social media thing. Like Instagram, but it started the filter craze. Now everyone is biting off Snapchat. Even Facebook. Wait…um, you know what social media is, right? Do you have an iPhone? Do you even know what that is?”
I glared at her.
She pointed at me. “I’m going to take that as a yes. Anyway, Shay adds snaps to her story and anyone who follows her can watch them. She snaps all the time.”
Snaps? What the fuck is she talking about?
“If you have your phone, I can show you,” she offered, smiling kindly at me.
